Except on very specific occasions, having two menstrual periods in a month can be indicative of some important medical condition, so we must inform the specialist.
The periods usually lasting between three and seven days, with cycles of 21 to 35 days. All women are different and of course these standards can vary a few days between each month.
They may even take more or less time to arrive than before on certain occasions. There are cases where you can have two menstrual periods in a month and it is important that you know the possible symptoms and what you should do if this is happening to you.
What are the symptoms?
You may notice some abnormalities in your normal menstrual cycle and slight bleeding makes you suspect that you will have two menstrual periods in a month.
The first thing to do is determining if it really is a second period by checking if you soak your towel or buffer within a few hours.
If so, the blood will be bright red. It is important that you check this, because some women tend to have a slight spotting when they are in the first trimester of a pregnancy, according to this study carried out by the Virgen del Camino de Navarra Hospital(Spain).
What could cause two menstrual periods?
It is common that, in the adult stage, the cycles between each menstruation is from 21 to 35 days, and in adolescence from 21 to 45 days.
It is important that you keep a record of your menstrual cycles so that you know what your interval is commonly.
If your interval suddenly shortens for no reason, it could be for any of the following reasons:
- Hyperthyroidism during pregnancy. This is stated in this study carried out by the University of Antofagasta(Chile).
- Onset of menopause.
- Puberty.
- Uterine fibroids.
- Stress.
- Extreme weight loss or gain, according to this research from the Mexican Institute of Social Security.
- Disease.
It is normal for some of these conditions to be confusing. A miscarriage can cause heavy bleeding.
For this reason, if you suspect a pregnancy and notice bleeding similar to a menstrual period, you should see a doctor immediately.
Which are the risk factors?
If you have a family history of fibroids, cysts, or early menopause, you may be at higher risk of having two menstrual periods in a month.
Consider making an appointment with your doctor if:
- You experience pain in your pelvis that persists for more than a couple of days.
- You suffer from heavy periods.
- Blood spots between periods, which can be mistaken for a second period.
- You urinate too often.
- You feel pain when you have sex.
- You have more menstrual cramps than normal.
- You notice dark clots during your period.
Can I have complications?
If you tend to have regular cycles, a change in your cycle or having two periods suddenly in a month could be a sign of a medical condition.
In some cases, having two periods in a short time can cause anemia. This is suggested by this study from the research. For this reason, your doctor should review your iron levels along with other tests to determine the cause of the bleeding.
Anemia can cause symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, weakness, dizziness, and even an irregular heartbeat.
What treatment should I follow?
Your treatment will depend on the cause after your two menstrual periods and can only be indicated by a doctor.
If your cycles are naturally shorter or you have just started menstruating, you probably don’t need any type of treatment.
You will most likely be prescribed an iron supplement in case of possible anemia.
In case you consider that your periods are very frequent, talk to your doctor about the possibility of taking contraceptives. These can help you regulate your periods, according to this study carried out by the researchers.
What should I tell my doctor?
Your doctor will likely ask you a few questions about your symptoms, which is why it’s important to prepare for your appointment.
This will make it easier for your doctor to find the right treatment as soon as possible. Here are some questions your doctor may ask you:
- How long do your cycles usually last?
- When did the changes in your cycle frequency start?
- How long does the bleeding last?
- How strong is the bleeding?
- How quickly do you fill your sanitary pad?
- Are there clots? If so, what is its size?
- What other symptoms does it have?
Start counting from the first day of bleeding to calculate the length of your cycle. Your cycle will end the day you start bleeding again.
Today there are many phone apps to help you track your cycle.
If you often have a history of irregular periods in your menstrual periods, tracking them will help you identify a problem more quickly and make it much easier to share the information with your doctor.
Remember to work with your doctor to regulate your menstrual cycle and balance your hormone levels. When these vary, they can influence on a large scale how you feel emotionally, and can even depress you for no reason.
Changes in your menstrual cycle can indicate health problems. It is always important to discuss abnormal bleeding with your doctor and not take it lightly.
